**Exciting Start to the Autumn Cricket Season in Cyprus**
The 2026 Cyprus Cricket 40-over Cup, sponsored by HurryCurry, kicked off with thrilling matches that showcased both resilience and skill among the competing teams. The opening games took place at Happy Valley, where the Limassol Warriors and Gujrat Lions faced off in a dramatic encounter.
In the first match, Limassol Warriors batted first but found themselves in dire straits at 22 runs for the loss of six wickets in just the 13th over. However, captain Takdeer Kundu stepped up to the challenge, delivering a remarkable performance with an unbeaten 52 runs. His steady innings proved pivotal as he guided the Warriors to a total of 124 runs, despite running out of partners along the way.
Confident in their ability to chase down the modest target, the Gujrat Lions began their innings with high hopes. However, they were met with fierce resistance from the Warriors' bowling attack. Limassol's bowlers dismantled the Lions, bowling them out for just 108 runs in 32.5 overs. Gurdeep Singh was the standout bowler, claiming an impressive 5 wickets for 21 runs, while Kundu contributed with the ball as well, finishing with figures of 2 for 10.
The second match of the day saw the Larnaca Kings pull off an unexpected victory against the star-studded MSN Sport Club. After a shaky start at 54 for 4, the Kings managed to post a competitive total of 149 runs in 34.1 overs. Vansham Bhandari was the highlight for MSN Sports Club, taking 5 wickets for 37 runs. However, the chase quickly fell apart for MSN, who were bowled out for a mere 76 runs in just 22.1 overs.
At Dhekelia, the match between 4Scots and Telugu11 was another nail-biter. After winning the toss, 4Scots opted to bat first, establishing a solid opening partnership of 92 runs between Eugene Steneberg (42 runs) and Jahvon (48 runs). Despite this strong start, the team could only manage a total of 174 runs in 32.1 overs. Telugu11's chase began with a bang as Sankar Mekala scored a blistering 58 runs off just 20 balls. However, after his dismissal, the team faced a challenging situation, needing 55 runs with only three wickets remaining. A crucial partnership between Uppaladine Sumanth (39 runs) and Chaitanya Reddy Kolli (17 runs) helped secure a three-wicket victory for Telugu11.
In parallel, the 2026 Cyprus Cricket T-10 Cup, also presented by HurryCurry, featured two matches at Happy Valley. The New Limassol Moufflons faced off against the original Moufflons side, emerging victorious with a comfortable six-wicket win while chasing a target of 50 runs, achieving this feat in just eight overs. In another match, the Larnaca Warriors edged out Amdocs by eight runs in a low-scoring game. With a total of 56 runs to defend, the Warriors capitalized on Amdocs' missteps, which were compounded by unusual changes in their batting order.
The 2026 Women's Autumn Competition also commenced, with the Limassol side securing a decisive 10-wicket victory over the Paphos team. The Paphos side struggled to reach 46 runs for 4 wickets in their allotted 10 overs.
Richard Boxall, President of the Cyprus Cricket Technical Committee, attended the matches at Happy Valley and expressed his satisfaction with the start of the season. He noted, “Some good matches to start the season. I was impressed to see umpires not afraid to give difficult decisions.”
As the autumn cricket season unfolds in Cyprus, teams are eager to build on their performances, and fans are looking forward to more exciting matches in the weeks to come.